The Chinese brand Hongqi, formerly reserved for senior officials, has started supplying the electric E-HS9 in Europe. The E-HS9 is just as big as the Mercedes-Benz GLS, but is cheaper than the smaller EQC, at least in Norway.
Hongqi is the premium brand of the Chinese state-owned company FAW Group. You may know Hongqi mainly from the Chinese state limos and the cars it supplied purely and solely to high-ranking government officials, but the company has also been supplying a whole range of models to private individuals for a while now. The E-HS9 is the largest of the bunch. The first copies are now being delivered in Norway, time to take a closer look at its prices.
The Hongqi E-HS9 is a 5.2 meter long electric SUV that is just as robust as the largest SUV that Mercedes-Benz supplies: the GLS. The basic version of the E-HS9 has two electric motors that each deliver 217 hp and 300 Nm, units that draw their energy from an 84 kWh (76.5 kWh net) battery pack. With this powertrain, the entry-level car zooms to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds. More interesting is the range. Hongqi indicates that the E-HS9 gets 396 WLTP kilometers on a full battery. The maximum charging power is 100 kW. The E-HS9 already has a whole range of active and passive safety systems on board in standard trim. Autopilot software and hardware is on board and the car is equipped with a digital clock shop, a 16.5-inch infotainment screen and so on. What does all this beauty cost? In Norway less than the much smaller (-45 cm) Mercedes-Benz EQC.
Hongqi E-HS9
Hongqi has put the E-HS9 in Norway on the price list for converted €61,750, temporarily even an introductory price of €59,750. The Mercedes-Benz EQC is available in Norway from over €65,000. Hongqi supplies the E-HS9 in Norway not only as Comfort, but also as more luxurious Premium and Exclusive. They not only have higher standard equipment – complete with soft-close doors – but also a more powerful drivetrain and a larger battery pack. At the front is a 217 hp and 300 Nm strong electric motor, behind a copy with 333 hp and 450 Nm. It sprints to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. Thanks to the larger battery pack, which measures 99 kWh (net 90 kWh), the pair should be able to cover 465 kilometers (WLTP). The Premium – just like the Comfort a seven-seater – costs at least about €69,800. The Exclusive is a six-seater with a lavish interior for which Hongqi in Norway wants to receive at least about €77,750.
Hongqi E-HS9
Hongqi has plans to park his E-HS9 in showrooms in other European countries as well. Since the Netherlands is one of the European countries where the EV integrates relatively quickly, it is likely that it will come here. Of course, the E-HS9 will receive different prices in the Netherlands, but there is no doubt that Hongqi positions it attractively.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl